Cory Sandhagen wasn’t too fond of T.J. Dillashaw’s attempt to fight through a severe injury.

UFC 280’s co-main event this past October between current bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and Dillashaw was rather anti-climactic. In the opening minute, it became evident that something was wrong with Dillashaw’s shoulder as he did his best to fend off the talented wrestler.

Dillashaw revealed after his second-round TKO loss that he’d been dealing with a bad reoccurring dislocation dating back to April 2022. Dillashaw, his team and referee Marc Goddard were all aware of the injury but the fight went ahead regardless. As a perennial top contender, Sandhagen is in the camp that the opportunity clearly should have gone to someone healthier.

“It wasn’t cool,” Sandhagen told MiddleEasy. He didn’t treat that situation as a gentleman, I think. I think that while you don’t have to care super deeply and compassionately about your opponents — because it’s hard to do that when you’re competing against them at the high level — I do think that you have to have some levels of compassion for the other people that are in your division.

” I think that he displayed a huge lack of compassion for the people within his division. It’s just his way of life, so I can’t judge him too harshly. But, I think it wasn’t that great of a move .”

.

In contrast to Dillashaw, Sandhagen added how commendable it is for Sterling to discuss the likelihood of him moving to featherweight in the near future. Sterling made clear to Merab Dvalishvili, his best friend and fellow teammate, that they will not fight.

Dillashaw announced his retirement from MMA. The former two-time UFC champion’s last official win goes down as his split decision nod over Sandhagen in July 2021. Dillashaw’s shoulder injury was the main reason his career ended, but Sandhagen believes his foe will stick to his decision.

” I think it’s the right decision for T.J.,” Sandhagen stated. He really did blow it in the last title fight. I don’t really know who the UFC would match him up with. He is getting older and he has a set life.

“I do know that T.J. is one of the most competitive guys that I know, so I think that’s the only thing that’s gonna keep him in the loop or at least keep his imagination in the world of fighting. I don’t think it would be a wise warrior move to continue to fight when he’s getting older and well off right now.”

Sandhagen has recently gotten back on track since his encounter with Dillashaw, defeating Song Yadong via a fourth-round doctor’s stoppage TKO in September. The “Sandman” can make a big statement amongst the top contender pool with a win in his upcoming matchup opposite Marlon “Chito” Vera in the UFC Vegas 69 main event on Feb. 18.

“I think I have a lot more ways to win as I think I typically do just because I am a very technical guy,” Sandhagen said. I don’t think that the manner in which ‘Chito’ has been winning is a reliable method of winning. What I mean by that is he’s losing most of his fights then catches the person and hits them hard — the guy obviously must hit hard — but the people that he’s also knocking out and dropping are people that have kind of shown signs of that happening fairly easy for them anyway. My chin is very strong.

” I don’t believe that the puncher’s chance of winning is an extremely reliable way to win. As far as grappling and wrestling go, I believe that I have the advantage. He has the puncher’s chance. However, I believe that I have the edge in technicality, having more tools and being more artistic. I also think I am more likely to win if I don’t get hit with any hard s***. As long as I don’t get hit with any hard s***, I think I’ll walk out of the cage a winner.”

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VIDEO STEW

[****************************************************************************************************************************************************** ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________?????????? Ep. 3

2022 in PFL.

Bisping’s best knockouts of 2022.

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LISTEN UP

Heck Of A Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck reacts to Dana White slapping wife during a physical altercation.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

R.I.P.

Optimism.

Shame.

Sweet.

Fire.

Quote.

Talk about calm before storms.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Daniel Pineda (27-14) vs. Tucker Lutz (12-2); UFC San Antonio, March 25

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Hard to disagree with “Sandman.” At the same time, MMA is a singular sport, though.

Thanks for reading!

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EXIT POLL

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Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/4/23537348/morning-report-cory-sandhagen-tj-dillashaw-fighting-aljamain-sterling-injured-showed-lack-compassion?rand=96749